Robert Jr. Gray
- formal_name:
- first_date: 1816
- last_date: 1816
- function: Bookseller
- locales: Alexandria
- precis: Bookseller in Alexandria (1816) with William Isabell (234) and Richard Horwell (226).
- notes: Bookseller
Alexandria
Bookseller in Alexandria (1816) with William Isabell (234) and Richard Horwell (226).
Gray's identity is far from certain, beyond the one notice that he published in Alexandria's newspapers. The Gray surname clearly suggests that he was related to the three brothers who sold books and practiced bookbinding in the town between 1799 and 1814: John (189), Robert (190), and William Fairfax (192) Gray. But the genealogical record for their families does not list a Robert Jr. among their children; indeed, that Robert Gray's only son died in infancy. So the appellation "Jr." used by this Robert Gray probably indicates an attempt to differentiate himself from that older professional contemporary. This individual may have been a Robert Gray "from Woodstock" whose death in New Orleans in 1820 was reported in northern Virginia newspapers, all of whom noted that he was "a printer by profession."
What is certain is that this Gray announced the dissolution of the firm of Horwell, Isabell & Gray, booksellers, in September 1816, as well as his continuation of their former business in its usual place under its usual conditions. Without further evidence, nothing more can be said about this fleeting presence in the Virginia print trade.
No Personal Data yet discovered.
Sources: Artisans & Merchants; notices in Alexandria newspapers (1816-20); Raymond, Gray Genealogy.
- Related Bios:
This version of the Index of Virginia Printing was a gift from the estate of the site's creator, David Rawson. The
content contained herein will not be updated, as it is part of the Library of Virginia's personal papers collection.
For more information, please see David Rawson Index of
Virginia Printing website. Accession 53067. Personal papers collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond,
Virginia.
